I think we need to define what everyone means by "charismatic." I agree that Nadal and Federer have a certain charisma inherent in their particular personal brand for sure.

smoledman, seriously, most casual fans aren't watching a bunch of Federer interviews. They like him because, again, he wins a lot and they find his overall image appealing. Not because he's Mr. Charismatic in interviews. He is a "classy competitor" and everything surrounding him screams this. I guess could include his demeanor in interviews but it goes way beyond that to marketing and PR of the "RF" brand in the media -- just think of his endorsements. Novak doesn't have a similar niche.

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A certain something that one has inherently which makes one globally likeable. One either has it or one does not. Federer and Nadal have it, Djokovic does not have it, nor does Murray at least not on the same level.

A certain something that one has inherently which makes one globally likeable. One either has it or one does not. Federer and Nadal have it, Djokovic does not have it, nor does Murray at least not on the same level.

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You're looking at the situation from the standpoint of Nadal and Federer being already established superstars though, so of course it's easy to say that they have that "certain something" that makes one globally likeable. I think it's totally possible that Djokovic just doesn't have it, but we'll see. I think a lot of what seems "inherent" in Nadal and Federer is actually the result of great marketing and PR, but we're all looking at it from the point of hindsight, so it doesn't seem that way. We'll see in a few years re: Djoko I suppose.

You're looking at the situation from the standpoint of Nadal and Federer being already established superstars though, so of course it's easy to say that they have that "certain something" that makes one globally likeable. I think it's totally possible that Djokovic just doesn't have it, but we'll see. I think a lot of what seems "inherent" in Nadal and Federer is actually the result of great marketing and PR, but we're all looking at it from the point of hindsight, so it doesn't seem that way. We'll see in a few years re: Djoko I suppose.

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No, I don't think I am being blinded by Federer's and Nadal's success. Djokovic has already won 5 slams, surely that is enough for me to see if he has that charisma and I don't think he has it. I don't think he will ever be as popular as Federer and Nadal. Just as Sampras with his 14 slams was never as popular as Agassi with his 8.

No, I don't think I am being blinded by Federer's and Nadal's success. Djokovic has already won 5 slams, surely that is enough for me to see if he has that charisma and I don't think he has it. I don't think he will ever be as popular as Federer and Nadal. Just as Sampras with his 14 slams was never as popular as Agassi with his 8.

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True. And he is far from new to tennis, so if he were going to blow up into a superstar like Fed he would have by now. He's been on the tour for years.

Nadal isn't a big draw as a personality. He is rather shy and speaks broken English. He is a marketing draw because he is a beast on the court. Nole has way more personality and charm and is the #1 player in the world. A good agent can make him a big star. The biggest strike against him is that he is from a small country.

True. And he is far from new to tennis, so if he were going to blow up into a superstar like Fed he would have by now. He's been on the tour for years.

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Yep, but the Djokotards are blind. With charisma it is there or it is not and it is very rare for a player to have blinding popularity and charisma. If you look at tennis from the 70's on, the only true superstars are Borg, Agassi, Federer and Nadal amongst the greats and past slam winners.

You wouldn't give Federer the time of day if he was a #100 ranked player.

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But the point is Djokovic already has five slams and has been on tour for a while, yet he does not have anywhere near the popularity that Federer and Nadal do. Why? It is not only because Federer and Nadal have more slams, Djokovic is not in their league in the charisma department. He will never be the global superstar they are. Look at Sampras and Agassi as the perfect example.

But the point is Djokovic already has five slams and has been on tour for a while, yet he does not have anywhere near the popularity that Federer and Nadal do. Why? It is not only because Federer and Nadal have more slams, Djokovic is not in their league in the charisma department. He will never be the global superstar they are. Look at Sampras and Agassi as the perfect example.

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That's because Djokovic wanted to be liked. He wanted attention which is why he did those stupid impersonations and got himself this reputation of being a joker. He should've kept it no nonsense, straight business-like from the beginning and let his tennis do the talking.

But the point is Djokovic already has five slams and has been on tour for a while, yet he does not have anywhere near the popularity that Federer and Nadal do. Why? It is not only because Federer and Nadal have more slams, Djokovic is not in their league in the charisma department. He will never be the global superstar they are. Look at Sampras and Agassi as the perfect example.

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I don't think there's much use in endlessly going back and forth but all I'm saying is that I think it's possible (re: Djokovic) with the right marketing, as Rjtennis posted. I say give it a couple of more years of him being the best player and not in the shadow of Fedal and we'll see. I'm not saying it WILL happen, just that it's not a total lost cause. We can all agree to disagree on this I suppose.

That's because Djokovic wanted to be liked. He wanted attention which is why he did those stupid impersonations and got himself this reputation of being a joker. He should've kept it no nonsense, straight business-like from the beginning and let his tennis do the talking.

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In general I think Djokovic would be more liked if he appeared less completely desperate to be liked. But I think that's just him...

That's because Djokovic wanted to be liked. He wanted attention which is why he did those stupid impersonations and got himself this reputation of being a joker. He should've kept it no nonsense, straight business-like from the beginning and let his tennis do the talking.

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No that is not why imo. Those impersonations have nothing to do with it. Djokovic does not have the inherent charisma needed to be as popular as Federer. Guys like Federer come around once every 15-20 years. You had Borg in the 70's and very early 80's, Agassi in the 90's to mid 2000, then Federer and to a lesser extent Nadal.

That's because Djokovic wanted to be liked. He wanted attention which is why he did those stupid impersonations and got himself this reputation of being a joker. He should've kept it no nonsense, straight business-like from the beginning and let his tennis do the talking.

They make me laugh. I don't think they're mean-spirited and some of them are incredibly good. He should definitely NOT have kept it business-like. There is Fed for that. If there is anything special about Djoko, it is precisely that he doesn't seem to be taking himself as seriously as Mr "I'm amazed by me" does. Some people like seriousness and they have a heavy dose of that with other players. Nole brings a much needed note of light-heartedness to the game and I'm very grateful for that.

Charisma is defined as having influence or authority over large number of people due to a special quality. It's fairly obvious Federer was a legend already when he had 5-6 slams due to his jaw dropping playing style. Later on the marketing people came up with polishing his classy image to suit his classic style.

Other people have different special qualities which constitute their charisma. E.g Kournikova for sex appeal.

I don't think people have done well with Djokovic. He seems to be the guy who hangs around the two elite players and does fun stuff at times. No wonder he doesn't have the big contracts.

Nadal isn't a big draw as a personality. He is rather shy and speaks broken English. He is a marketing draw because he is a beast on the court. Nole has way more personality and charm and is the #1 player in the world. A good agent can make him a big star. The biggest strike against him is that he is from a small country.

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Having a loud personality does not equal charisma.

Nadal is charismatic not only for his fighting spirit on the court, but for his 'Rafa speak' and shy boyish charm off the court.

I personally think Fed and Nad's are a lot more charismatic and charming than Djokovic

Wanting to be liked, craving for attention... for me the #1 charisma killer, and I believe there are many more folks feeling like that.

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Yes, this is a problem for Djokovic. He has mentioned before that someone like Tsonga in the 08 AO final was getting more support than he was, and I don't think it went over right with the people when he gave the winners speech. Or when he raised his arms after his incredible return in the USO 2011 SF vs Fed. The one thing I don't think you should do is try, or look desperate to get crowd support. People will cheer who they want to cheer since they payed good money to do so. Just makes you look bad IMO. Off the top of my head neither Nadal or Federer has ever asked for crowd support in such a way.

Yes, this is a problem for Djokovic. He has mentioned before that someone like Tsonga in the 08 AO final was getting more support than he was, and I don't think it went over right with the people when he gave the winners speech. Or when he raised his arms after his incredible return in the USO 2011 SF vs Fed. The one thing I don't think you should do is try, or look desperate to get crowd support. People will cheer who they want to cheer since they payed good money to do so. Just makes you look bad IMO.

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Pretty well said. Shut up and do your job, which is, play tennis!

Or do a 180... exploit the 'bad boy'-image. Make it worse. It worked for Connors, McEnroe, Nastase, Rios, to name a few, so why not for Djokovic? Someone give IMG a call immediately. :twisted:

Off the top of my head neither Nadal or Federer has ever asked for crowd support in such a way.

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Well I think I've seen a massive majority of either of their's matches since 2004 and cannot recall having seen anything the like, ever.

They make me laugh. I don't think they're mean-spirited and some of them are incredibly good. He should definitely NOT have kept it business-like. There is Fed for that. If there is anything special about Djoko, it is precisely that he doesn't seem to be taking himself as seriously as Mr "I'm amazed by me" does. Some people like seriousness and they have a heavy dose of that with other players. Nole brings a much needed note of light-heartedness to the game and I'm very grateful for that.

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I like his impressions as well, but I think there came a time for Djokovic where he had to stop in a sense. When he became #1 and had his incredible season, it was kind of like "Ok you're the man now, stop acting like a child." Which he did. Essentially he grew up. A 30 year old Djokovic for example, I don't think he'd look great trying to do impressions again. Don't ask me why, it's just a feeling I have. He created a little niche for himself with the impressions, but when he was #3 in 2007 it was ok because people didn't think he would reach the heights he has, and become a serious rival to Federer and Nadal. He's still a joker though just without the impressions which I can honestly say I've forgotten about even though I liked them.

Then you have his parents. Unfortunately I think they project negatively on him although through no real fault of his own, especially to most people who don't dig deep and find real facts before forming opinions, (and everybody knows there are a lot of those types). He has/had a history of retiring from matches which didn't sit well with people, and then the whole thing with his parents against Federer. "The king is dead..blah blah blah" "Be quiet".

Then you have his parents. Unfortunately I think they project negatively on him although through no real fault of his own, especially to most people who don't dig deep and find real facts before forming opinions, (and everybody knows there are a lot of those types). He has/had a history of retiring from matches which didn't sit well with people, and then the whole thing with his parents against Federer. "The king is dead..blah blah blah" "Be quiet".

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Truth be told, they have managed to improve their behaviour.
I don't know whether it's a fact or just a forum rumour, but I actually think Djokovic himself realized all too well that his parents' former behaviour wasn't serving him well, and he actually asked them to remain low-key for a while - hence why they were absent from his matches for quite a while, I think it was about a year ago. Djokovic is a smart fellow, this doesn't seem all too far of to think of that it indeed happened, imho.

Truth be told, they have managed to improve their behaviour. I don't know whether it's a fact or just a forum rumour, but I actually think Djokovic himself realized all too well that his parents' former behaviour wasn't serving him well, and he actually asked them to remain low-key for a while - hence why they were absent from his matches for quite a while, I think it was about a year ago. Djokovic is a smart fellow, this doesn't seem all too far of to think of that it indeed happened, imho.

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Far from the truth, actually. His family are just as classless and brash as they ever were. Please refer to his parents big mouths during the rain delay at RG this year for proof. And even though he's not family, his coach has a big loud mouth as well.

Far from the truth, actually. His family are just as classless and brash as they ever were. Please refer to his parents big mouths during the rain delay at RG this year for proof. And even though he's not family, his coach has a big loud mouth as well.

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Well, let's then just conclude that they aren't as bad as often as they used to be in the past. Don't get me wrong, I still don't like them, but I don't have any trouble with giving credits as I do think they've improved on the whole.